WORD PAINTINGS #124 (How I Came to New Mexico and Learned About Life and Art) -RAIN, RAIN, RAIN, RAIN – BLESSED RAIN!!!
3 July 2022 (Llano Quemado, New Mexico) – Sunday morning silence – not even the birds are singing! Truth is we are all exhausted from the heavy drama of this time since the fires began in April. Fell asleep to the sounds of a gentle, steady rain last night – the sweet smells of grass and earth. Everything just feels softer, better….more hopeful. There is a definite harshness in the high desert without moisture. High winds and sand storms added to the disquiet of every living thing. Even the neighborhood dogs are silent this morning. Am picturing them all curled up in a shady spot on some cool morning grass. It feels like being in church! The fields that were a crispy brown just a week ago are now a brilliant green. Yesterday the suburban sounds of lawnmowers seemed no longer a nuisance, but instead a sign of great relief that the monsoon is finally here!
So much has happened this year – pandemic still with us, the invasion of Ukraine, the devastating fires and, of course, the ongoing 24/7 Trumpathon.
Many shifts and changes in my little life as well. My two favorite words are “adapt” and “adjust”. At the soon to be age of 83 it is time for a fearless and thorough inventory of life and my time left on this planet. One big surprise was my departure from Chimayo Trading. Many, many stories of my life with galleries, consignments, agents, negotiations – endless striving. Sometimes change is pressed upon me – I resist until there is no other option than to walk away – relationships, marriages, business arrangements. It is never any one thing – I wait until there is a huge pile up and the decisions are made for me. Now what?
So, here I am – this beautiful Sunday morning. Heading to my easel to set up a fresh new palette…..big globs of juicy colors and the delicious smells of linseed oil and turpentine! My addiction! The new work “Late Winter Storm” (another precious Truchas memory) will hopefully find its way to completion this afternoon. Fascination with my family tree on Ancestry is leading me in a whole new direction – my unknown history – Polish, German, Russian. Mysteries and Surprises – some dating back to the 1500s! Found an old book “Poland” by James Michener on Audible – 30 listening hours. Wow! That means 30 working hours at the easel! Off to set up my paints!
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“More than Doers, we are Deciders. Once our decision becomes clear, the Universe supports and empowers our actions.” The Book of Runes
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4 July 2022 Independence Day!!! Happy Birthday America! Happy New Day to Me! A day of decision-making. Slow to get up – wonderful storm last night – winds, loud banging claps of thunder – hail against my windows. Some heart-pounding minutes – and then the peaceful sounds of a gentle rain and the glorious smell of wet puddley earth! Grateful.
Worked today to complete Late Winter Storm – new 24″x30″. Here it is – another Truchas memory! Enjoy! DC
